Category: Album Reviews
Review: “Fred Astaire” by Joseph Epstein
For some time now, I’ve been meaning to post a review of the book Fred Astaire by Joseph Epstein. The only thing that kept me from doing this sooner was knowing how much time it would take to page through Read More …
Get to know Doris Day
To the dismay of fans everywhere (Peppermint Patty included), Doris Day has pretty much fallen off the radar of society over the years. I, for one, thought she was dead until I read that she wasn’t — she’s just in Read More …
They came a long way from St. Louis
Fans of the Heavy Petting Zoo know that I have a special place in my heart for Rosemary Clooney. My friends know this too (how could they not?), and upon a recent stop in Chicago, two good friends surprised me Read More …
Trouble’s just a bubble, and the clouds will soon roll by
It’s a vastly underrepresented musical era, yet – in my view – it is one of the most enjoyable: the music of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Perhaps part of the reason we don’t hear this music anywhere is Read More …
Where it all began: “Sleepless In Seattle” soundtrack
Just about every time a new acquaintance learns of my involvement in this thing we call The Heavy Petting Zoo, I get the same question: “How did you ever get into that kind of music?!” Many factors contribute to this Read More …
“Christmas With the Rat Pack”
I admit it: I’m a Rat Pack freak. After all, the Rat Pack is one of the reasons I got into this type of music in the first place, starting with Frank, then with Dean. It all unraveled from there. Read More …
“White Christmas/A Christmas Special” – Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney
Fact: Christmas is not Christmas without Bing Crosby. I got this hard-to-find LP from a friend and former WSUMer who discovered it at a resale shop either here in Madison or down in Chicago. Side A features Bing Crosby, and Read More …
“Christmas Classics” – Bing Crosby
This CD was released in 2004, though it sounds like the recordings come to us from the 1950s. Bing’s baritone voice fills the room with rich, warm fuzzies and knocks you in the gut like the sack of sweet valencia Read More …
“Elvis’ Christmas Album” – Elvis Presley
There seem to be two factions out there. One (represented by my aunt, Magical Margical) wants Elvis played all the time on The Heavy Petting Zoo. The other (represented by WSUM’s General Manager and occasional HPZ fill-in host, Dave Black) Read More …
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Other Christmas Classics” – Gene Autry
Gene Autry is probably one of my favorite classic country stars. He’s famous for his rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (Track 2) but there are other songs to enjoy, such as “He’s A Chubby Little Fellow” (Track 3) and Read More …